interview with julia marton lefevre director general iucn international union for conservation of nature holcim ltd

The new IUCN Conservation Centre.
Interview with Julia Marton-Lefèvre
Director General IUCN
(International Union for Conservation of Nature)
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14 15
I nterview J ulia Marton-Lefèvre
The Holcim Think Tank sits atop the IUCN Conservation
Centre, with views over Lake Geneva and the Alps.
Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director General IUCN
Holcim and IUCN: “We share a vision”
The International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN), headquartered in Gland, Switzerland, and
Holcim have been partners for four years. The com-
mon activities aim to define environmental protection
standards for the Holcim Group, thus contributing to
the sustainability of the cement industry and related
industries. The partnership agreement was recently
extended for another three years. IUCN’s Director
General, Julia Marton-Lefèvre, comments on the
cooperation with Holcim.
IUCN is engaging with the private sector, why?
Conserving biodiversity is one of the world’s biggest
challenges. The private sector plays such a prominent
role in our society, so business must be an integral
part of the solution. Companies depend on nature as
much as people do and they often impact biodiversity
directly through their operations, but they can also be
important drivers of change. As long as a company
has a genuine wish to change the way it does busi-
ness in order to benefit nature, we would work with it.

What is so “special” in working with Holcim compared
to other partners?
I believe that Holcim and IUCN have had a truly
meaningful engagement over the years, starting with
the commitment at the very top, from CEO Markus
Akermann, with whom I signed the agreement four
years ago, and right through to local Holcim employ-
ees with whom we work around the world. Holcim has
been very transparent and flexible, which has made
for a highly constructive working relationship. This
openness has also meant that we have been able to
take advantage of new opportunities, such as Holcim’s
participation in the major global study on The
Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB).
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Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director General IUCN
Holcim provided among other things CO2-reduced cement,
financial support and technical expertise.
This is the headquarters of IUCN and other important international
conservation organizations.
What has IUCN learned from this first phase
of the relationship?
Our cooperation with Holcim has been very fruitful.
Moreover the relationship has become a model for
how we work with businesses in other sectors. Our
work with Holcim has involved many different parts
of IUCN, through our regional and country offices in
Asia, Europe and North and South America, as well
as our scientific expert volunteers from around the
world. The knowledge gained from our relationship,

for example on how quarry sites impact nature
around them, is also being used in other aspects of
IUCN’s work.
What do you hope the second phase agreement
will bring?
We are very much looking forward to the new three-
year collaboration with Holcim. The main aim will be
to further incorporate biodiversity management prac-
tices into Holcim’s global operations. In addition, the
work will include some new topics. Water issues, in
particular, will be a key focus with the development of
a water management strategy addressing how Holcim
operations impact local watersheds. We will also in-
crease engagement with the wider building materials
sector.
Many are sceptical about partnering with business.
How do you protect your independence and integrity
in such a partnership?
IUCN is a democratic union of more than 1,100 mem-
ber organizations and almost 11,000 experts, reaching
deep into the conservation movement around the
world. Some members of this large community are
still sceptical about partnering with business and we
place great emphasis on maintaining our integrity
and independence, as well as constantly striving to
be transparent and results-focused in all our business
engagements. Aside from a wide range of operational
policies and safeguards, the most important element
is to make sure that any company we work with is
truly committed to sustainability.

What does the partnership with Holcim mean
to you personally?
Holcim and IUCN share the vision of a just world that
values and conserves nature. The partnership was very
beneficial for both sides. It has been a pleasure to
work with Holcim and to get to know the company’s
strong commitment to biodiversity. Holcim and its
Foundation for Sustainable Construction provided
generous support to the recently opened IUCN Con-
servation Centre in Switzerland, helping to realize our
dream of building the greenest global headquarters
for IUCN.
I nterview J ulia Marton-Lefèvre
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Biological Diversity
Biodiversity is about more than just the variety of
species: It is also inextricably linked to the diversity of
ecosystems, as well as genetic diversity within a
species. In its entirety, this natural wealth is part of the
basis for life. But its rich variety is under threat: Over
52,000 species of animals and plants have been as-
sessed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™.
18,000 of them are facing extinction, including one in
five mammals and one in eight species of bird. In recent
years, there has been a major effort to stem the decline
in biodiversity – but more work needs to be done.
Holcim is aware of its responsibility
One of the main threats to biodiversity is the world’s
increasing consumption of natural resources. This is

resulting in a situation where valuable land is being
lost, ecosystems are being broken up, and the quality of
habitats is declining. The building materials industry
too is dependent on large quantities of raw materials
and energy. Existing ecosystems are affected by quarry-
ing for the natural resources used to manufacture
cement and aggregates. As one of the world’s leading
suppliers of building materials, Holcim is aware of this
and acts accordingly. Because the protection of bio-
diversity around the globe is an important part of sus-
tainable development, Holcim seeks opportunities to
minimize the need for natural resources and the impact
of production on the environment.
Partnership with the IUCN
As protecting biodiversity is a comprehensive, con-
stantly evolving challenge, the firm cooperates closely
with the International Union for Conservation of Na-
ture (IUCN). In 2007, the two partners signed a collabo-
ration agreement. An important milestone has since
been achieved, with a group of experts having proposed
to Holcim the Biodiversity Management System (BMS):
Recommendations on how biodiversity can be embed-
ded in Holcim’s management of quarries, as well as
on the need to organize and adapt our management
system in order to help safeguard biodiversity. Holcim
is now in the process of implementing these recom-
Beautiful Peacook Butterfly.
The UN General Assembly declared 2010 as the “International
Year of Biodiversity”. The UN’s move serves as a reminder to
us all that the variety of species and habitats around the

world is diminishing fast – and that this has implications
for the whole of humanity. Holcim has long been aware of
the importance of biodiversity: For many years, the firm has
demonstrated its global commitment to biodiversity and
a responsible approach to the use of natural resources.
Visits and workshops are regularly organized in the quarries
for school classes.
Biological diversity –
a resource Holcim treats with care
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The biodiversity exhibition is
dedicated to the public.
Courses on nature photography are regularly held. The rehabilitation of the quarry starts already during
the exploitation.
Biological Diversity
mendations. A number of Group companies have also
worked together with IUCN at a local level – including
Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Spain and
China.
The partnership is intended to further the exchange
of experience. Holcim and IUCN have therefore placed
the recommendations in the public domain, in the
hope of stimulating discussion and encouraging other
companies in the industry to act.
Rehabilitated quarries – a benefit to society and nature
Holcim’s rehabilitation projects are excellent examples
of a positive contribution to the environment and diver-
sity of species. Throughout the world, quarries are care-
fully rehabilitated and transformed into valuable oases
for flora and fauna. The concept of “near-natural” land-

scaping is a core theme running through the quarrying
process. Rehabilitation actually begins while quarrying
is still underway. This benefits not only nature and, by
extension, society but also the company – because
good ecological planning can result in lower long-term
costs. Holcim’s cement plant in Belgium is a good ex-
ample of this “win-win” situation. At Mons, close to the
border with France, restoration of two closed quarries
started in 1993; in 2009 – thanks to close cooperation
with the environmental protection organization “Les
Naturalistes du Hainaut”, the University of Mons and
EU funding – the “House of Biodiversity” was opened.
The house is a multimedia educational establishment
and information center. Tours for school groups and
courses on nature photography, for example, are held
there and in nearby quarries. The public has been in-
volved in developing this project right from the outset,
and remains so to this day. Holcim is proud to con-
tribute with these activities to the education and
awareness raising of a wider audience to the biodiver-
sity topic.
Plan of action for quarry sites in sensitive areas
The IUCN is an ideal partner for Holcim because it has
been dedicated to promoting biodiversity around the
globe ever since being founded in 1948. The global um-
brella organization now has more than 1,100 member
organizations and brings together 11,000 experts who,
through committees, exchange views on the biggest
problems facing the world: climate change, sustainable
energy supply, economic success and the creation of an

environmentally sustainable economy. The members
of the IUCN engage in scientific dialog, work on hun-
dreds of conservation programs and exert influence
on the formulation of international conventions and
national laws. IUCN also shows its commitment to
sustainability at a very practical level: In 2010, the or-
ganization renovated and expanded its headquarters,
which is now know as the Conservation Centre, in
Gland, Switzerland – the extension is seen today as one
of the world’s most sustainable buildings. Thanks to
construction methods and building technology that
help save raw materials and energy, it meets the
strictest standards of environmentally responsible con-
struction: LEED Platinum, Minergie-P and Minergie-Eco.
With this new building, IUCN provides an impressive
example of sustainable, cost-effective construction.
Holcim is proud to have contributed innovative building
materials and to have participated in the funding of
this pioneering building. The company is also delighted
that the strategic partnership with IUCN has now been
extended for a further three years. Cooperation should
ensure that by 2013 Holcim achieves its stated target of
having a plan to protect biodiversity at 80 percent of its
quarry sites situated in sensitive areas.
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Gravel Pit El Puente, Spain
A paradise for birds between the gravel excavators:
gravel pit El Puente, Spain
The gravel pit of El Puente.
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Warning signs to indicate certain
dangers.
The El Puente gravel pit lakes, inhabited by thousands of birds,
are today a zone of special protection.
The El Puente’s zone of protection
measures 180 hectares.
Gravel Pit El Puente, Spain
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Gravel Pit El Puente, Spain
Holcim has operated in Spain since 1980, and the El
Puente gravel pits in Seseña are a nationally and inter-
nationally well-known site of the firm – but it’s not
only because of the significant annual output of up to
one million tonnes of crushed stone: El Puente is fa-
mous because it is where about two hundred species
of birds live and nest amidst a green oasis. South of
Madrid, Holcim proves that ecology and business do
not necessarily clash – and that nature can even
benefit from quarrying in the long term. “What has
emerged here is better than what was before,” says
Manuel Regueiro y González-Barros, Extraordinary
Professor at the Department for Crystallography
and Mineralogy at the Geology Faculty of the Com-
plutense University in Madrid.
Planning the end in advance
Holcim owes this recognition above all to astute proj-
ect planning: The rehabilitation of the pits had al-
ready been planned before the first excavator began
burying its way into the gravel. It was an ambitious

objective, the aim being to create a landscape typical
of the region. This objective limited the choice of flora,
as did the climate – with its dry summers and inhos-
pitable winters. A further aim was to meet the needs
of fauna in the best possible way. To simplify the sub-
sequent rehabilitation project, fundamental work was
carried out before quarrying began. For example, the
top, fertile layer of soil above the gravel was carefully
removed and stored for later use in the reforestation
of the area. The excavator drivers also needed to en-
sure that the walls and edges of the pits did not form
straight lines, as these would have looked unnatural
following restoration.
A biologist’s dream
Quarrying operations left pits extending to a depth of
9.3 meters, which naturally filled with groundwater.
The work of the specialists began at the same time.
Under the supervision of biologist Tomás Velasco, who
has been overseeing rehabilitation for the past 13
years, the contours of the banks were shaped and new
islands created. The soil that had been stored was dis-
tributed around the new lakes, enabling plants to set-
tle and grow. Velasco and his colleagues created wet-
lands, drier spots, as well as small areas of forest. As
usual, however, the challenge often lay in the detail: In
many places, the depth of the lake had to be reduced
because light no longer penetrated to the bottom and
aquatic plants could therefore not survive. Banks that
had been rendered too steep needed to be reshaped
with a flatter slope. The focus was also on monitoring

water quality and continually optimizing sections of
habitat. It all meant there was a lot to do – but every-
one involved was highly motivated. “For a biologist, it’s
a dream to get the opportunity to participate in creat-
Rare Purple Swamphen with a cobalt
plumage and a red beak.
The Purple Heron is also a rare bird species;
it is purple-grey and has reddish plumage and
yellow feet.
Every day, trucks remove tonnes of gravel while excavators
bury their way deep into the ground. Yet right next door is
a breeding ground for countless birds. At the gravel pits of
El Puente in Spain, Holcim shows how active operations can
successfully co-exist with sensitive ecological areas.
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Gravel Pit El Puente, Spain
ing a bit of nature like this”, Velasco enthuses. The
realization of the dream is certainly viewed as an
exemplary achievement by those in the profession.
“The ecological measures taken in the gravel pits of
El Puente for the rehabilitation project bear witness to
Holcim’s commitment to sustainable development”,
says Margarita Astrálaga, former Director of the
Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation at the Interna-
tional Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Diverse flora is attracting fauna
Diverse flora is the basis for flourishing fauna – and
indeed it didn’t take long after rehabilitation for the
fauna to arrive, with El Puente becoming a paradise

for birds. Some species use the created islands and
dense vegetation as a nesting place; others simply
stop by here on their annual trip south because El
Puente lies on one of the main routes for migratory
birds. Around 200 species of birds have now been
recorded at the 180 hectares of El Puente. Some of
them are among very rare species or even those
threatened by extinction – such as the Mediterranean
gull, purple swamphen, white-headed duck, squacco
heron, and ferruginous duck. But other species of ani-
mal also feel at home here: fish, foxes, wild rabbits
and stone martens. By preserving existing habitats
and creating new ones, a whole variety of wildlife is
attracted. “This way, a maximum degree of biodiver-
sity has been achieved”, says Javier Andrada Andrada,
Chairman of the Spanish Association of Aggregate
Producers (Asociación Nacional de Empresarios Fabri-
cantes de Áridos, ANEFA). El Puente, he said, was posi-
tive proof that the industry could create valuable
ecosystems if it was committed to sustainability.
Honor and obligation
Sharing his view is Christoph Imboden, chair of the
independent expert panel assembled by IUCN that
advises Holcim at the Group level on how to best inte-
grate biodiversity: “Holcim shows that it is possible
to manage natural resources on a sustainable basis.
The firm is constantly endeavoring to develop a set
of worldwide guidelines for its quarrying operations
that enable it to tackle the issue of biodiversity.”
Holcim consciously plays a pioneering role within

the industry, and has also received accolades for this
commitment: In 2010, Holcim Spain won the European
Aggregates Association’s European Sustainable Devel-
opment Prize in the biodiversity category for its reha-
bilitation of El Puente. Carlos Abella, former Regional
Head for Aggregates at Holcim Spain, is aware that
such an award also brings with it responsibilities:
“Being a member of the prizewinning team is at once
an honor and an obligation.” Fact is, El Puente is still
far from being completed: The excavators will be
digging pits there for another five to ten years. But at
the same time, the paradise for birds that is El Puente
will continue to grow.
Of the endangered
species Mediterra-
nean Gull live less
than 20 couples in
all of Spain.
In the rehabilitated area live a variety duck
species, among them the Ferruginous Duck,
a species that is in danger of extinction.
Schoolchildren from Madrid plant trees
in one of El Puente’s restoration areas.
Watering of the roads hinders dust
formation.
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Milton Quarry, Canada
100,000 new trees:
Milton quarry, Canada
Habitat for a variety of fauna, including

the Leopard Frog.
The Milton quarry is adjacent to natural woodland of the Niagara Escarpment.
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Queen Anne’s Lace is
one of Ladybugs favourite
food plants.
Today, biodiversity in Milton quarry is higher than before excavation. Here, also the Monarch Butterfly
feels at home.
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Milton Quarry, Canada
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Milton Quarry, Canada
In October 2010, the tenth meeting of the Confer-
ence of the Parties to the Convention on Biological
Diversity was held in Japan. The participants dis-
cussed the new targets for halting the loss of bio-
diversity. A Holcim project was among those that
countries presented as best practice: the quarry in
Milton, Canada.
Working at a sensitive site
The quarry in Milton is operated by Dufferin Aggregates,
a division of Holcim Canada. Thanks to its site of 550
hectares and its location in the immediate vicinity of
Toronto, Dufferin is one of the leading suppliers of
stone products in the metropolitan area. What makes
the plant exceptional, however, is its natural location:
The quarry is on the so-called Niagara Escarpment. This
more than 700 kilometer long, unique and sensitive
geological area has been declared a World Biosphere
Reserve by UNESCO. Accordingly, Dufferin had to fulfill

a number of conditions before the company could
begin to quarry dolomite limestone in 1962. Since then,
three to four million tonnes of stone have been mined
annually and this rate is likely to be maintained for
another 25 years.
Everything according to plan
Since 1973, the Niagara Escarpment Planning and
Development Act (NEPDA) had regulated all activi-
ties in the area of the Niagara Escarpment. In 1985,
the Niagara Escarpment Plan (NEP) came into place
to guide land use decisions on the Escarpment.
One of the objectives of the plan is to ensure that
depleted areas are rehabilitated in harmony with
their surroundings. Christoph Imboden, chairman of
the independent group of experts assembled by
International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) as an advisory panel to Holcim, knows: “A lot
can be done to reduce or even avoid the negative
effects of quarrying on biodiversity.” Dufferin meets
this challenge with verve.
More than 100,000 trees planted
Rehabilitation of the spent portion of the quarry is a
long-term, ongoing task. While the excavators, drills,
and trucks quarry the next section, an interdiscipli-
nary team of experts consider how the scars left in
the landscape can be healed. In this country of vast
forests, reforestation plays a major role. The trees
used for this purpose include weymouth pine, dog-
The water levels and temperatures
around the extraction area are

monitored.
To reduce its environmental footprint, a closed-loop system of
recycled water is used.
Canada’s forests are vast. Despite this, each tree that has
fallen, can mean a loss of biodiversity for the country. Holcim
Canada therefore attaches great importance to the proper
rehabilitation of its depleted pits and quarries. The efforts
in Milton have been so successful that the environmental
measures were showcased as an example of best practice at
the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya.
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wood, white spruce, oak, and maple. Each year
during Earth Week, Dufferin organizes a large tree-
planting campaign in conjunction with partners
such as Scoutrees for Canada and the Halton
Conservation Authority – with resounding success:
In 2008, the 100,000th tree was planted.
Natural integration
In the meantime, the Milton rehabilitation plan has
grown to encompass far more than reforestation.
The goal is to completely integrate the “new” land-
scape where stone was extracted into the surround-
ing area. The materials found in the quarry – earth,
water, stone, sand, gravel, etc. – are being used to
help create wetlands, meadows, and lakes. Over time,
this diversity of biotopes has become a habitat for
hundreds of species of animals and plants. The on-
going monitoring of the rehabilitated areas of the
quarry has revealed the existence of not only 325

plant species, but also 235 animal species: birds,
insects, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. All of
them are living proof that, with expertise and the
appropriate measures an ecosystem can be revived.
Instructive especially for schools
People, too, have returned to the rehabilitated area.
Every year Holcim organizes more than 100 lectures,
courses, and other events on the site of the Milton
quarry. Most of the tours are aimed at school groups
and deal with topics such as geology, environmental
management, and rehabilitation. In addition, there
are regular tours for environmental organizations.
Dufferin is also a founding member of the Bruce Trail
Association, which tends the longest uninterrupted
hiking trail in Canada. A portion of the 1,300-kilome-
ter Bruce Trail passes through Dufferin lands, where
a pedestrian bridge offers hikers fascinating views of
the quarrying operations from a safe distance.
Recognition of a future
The rehabilitation efforts in Milton have already
received widespread recognition. For example the
Ontario Stone Sand and Gravel Association Award of
Excellence, the Conservation Halton Ralph Sherwood
Conservation Award and the National Stone Sand
and Gravel Association Environmental Eagle Award.
This recognition is an important signal: Quarrying
does not have to be a permanent scar in the land-
scape – if done with circumspection and responsibil-
ity. With this approach it is possible to have heavy
earth-moving machinery quarrying stone just a few

meters away from flourishing fauna and flora, hikers
enjoy nature, and children play baseball. One day,
when the quarry is completely exhausted and reha-
bilitated, hundreds of hectares of intact nature will
be handed over to the local environmental organi-
zation, Conservation Halton. And then the former
quarry will become part of the largest cohesive pro-
tected natural environment in the Greater Toronto
Area.
Employees are
actively partici-
pating in the
rehabilitating.
The Milton quarry rehabilitation is a self-sustaining ecosystem.Insects and plants are critical components of the healthy
ecosystem.
Milton Quarry, Canada
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Rehabilitation at Puesto Viejo,
Argentina
Large-scale biodiversity:
rehabilitation at Puesto Viejo, Argentina
“Wood” Lily.Andrés Palavecino is a warden at the Puesto Viejo site.
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Red-legged Seriema.
This bird species is typical
of the mountainous
province Chaco.
The Red Iguana “Caraguay” lives here. Paper tree – endagered, endemic
species from Northwestern Argentina.
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Rehabilitation at Puesto Viejo,
Argentina
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A reforested wooded area.Ivan Escalier (left), from Bosque Modelo Jujuy, who is monitoring the rehabilitated
site and Armando Molina, the Quarry Coordinator.
The rehabilitation of a quarry is a laborious process.
It is not enough to fill pits and plant a few trees and
shrubs – at any rate not, if like Holcim your basic
principle is to leave an area in the same or better con-
dition than you originally found it. All Holcim Group
companies worldwide base on this guiding idea. In
Argentina the company is Juan Minetti, which, with
more than 1,300 employees and an annual production
volume of 4.2 million tonnes, is one of the largest
suppliers of cement in this country.
A big opportunity for a big area
Covering 13,000 hectares, the site of the quarries of
the cement plant in Puesto Viejo in the north of the
country is one of the largest in the Group. However,
only a small portion of the quarry is actively mined.
Limestone has been quarried in this region since
1970; the cement plant opened in 1981 is still in opera-
tion today. The first steps toward rehabilitating the
spent sections of the quarry were initiated shortly
before the turn of the millennium. In 1999 Minetti
contacted “Bosque Modelo Jujuy” (BMJ), a non-gov-
ernmental organization that focuses on saving the
severely stressed dry forests in the region. Extensive
cattle ranching, mining, soil erosion and, not least,
deforestation have substantially reduced the tree

population. The cooperation between Minetti and
BMJ led to the founding of a tree nursery in the same
year. Each year, thousands of indigenous seedlings
are cultivated, sold or used in forestation programs.
At the same time, the tree nursery provides employ-
ment for trainee biologists and the local population.
Seeds for the future
Another important step in favor of biodiversity was
taken in 2004 when Minetti, in conjunction with the
German embassy in Argentina and the Centro de
Rehabilitation “Dr. Vicente Arroyabe,” founded the
first seed bank for indigenous trees of Northwestern
Argentina. Since then the seeds are collected, studied,
treated, and stored – strictly in accordance with the
guidelines of the UN Food and Agricultural Organiza-
tion (FAO). This ensures that the genetic material of
the tree population is preserved. The seed bank has,
moreover, created jobs. Some of them are reserved
for people with physical or mental disabilities: They
collect and process seeds.
Rehabilitation at Puesto Viejo,
Argentina
Holcim has adopted a particularly proactive approach
toward biodiversity and sustainability at one of the largest
quarries in the Group: A master plan is being put into effect
in Puesto Viejo in Northern Argentina. The UN Food and
Agricultural Organization (FAO) has already paid tribute to
the plan.
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The nursery of native

trees from Northern
Argentina.
“Raw material” for the seed bank. Before being stored in the seed bank,
the seeds are tested.
A lot of work, a lot of praise
The rehabilitation project in Puesto Viejo is unique
in its comprehensiveness. All the material, all the
insights, knowledge, and experience can be applied to
the entire region. In addition, the collaboration with
local and national organizations guarantees that new
knowledge and insights will be passed on. Owing to
the complementarities of the individual subprojects,
a sustainable modularity is inherent to the rehabilita-
tion process. The local population also benefits from
the concept: New jobs, better soil, and intact sur-
roundings have perceptibly improved the local inhab-
itants’ quality of life. Recently, the FAO paid tribute
to these successes: The project in Puesto Viejo was
highlighted as exemplary in the field of sustainable
forest management.
Inventory of nature
To ensure that the result of rehabilitation efforts is
harmonious integration with the existing landscape
requires detailed knowledge of this landscape. To this
end, in 2006 Minetti asked BMJ to study the flora and
fauna in Puesto Viejo. The study revealed an astonish-
ing biodiversity. All in all, 587 plant species were iden-
tified, including Brazilwood, Humboldt’s willow, and
quebracho trees. The wildlife count produced, among
others, 136 bird, 82 butterfly, and 12 reptile species.

Equally remarkable and pleasing is that the southern
boa constrictor lives on the Minetti site. This snake
can grow up to three meters in length. As an endan-
gered species it is protected by the Washington
Agreement on the Protection of Species.
Supervised rehabilitation
After a lot of preparatory work it was time to develop
a specific concept to rehabilitate the disused quarries
in Puesto Viejo. The concept had to meet rigorous
standards. To ensure that the local gene pool is not
diluted, only trees grown exclusively from seeds from
the Minetti site may be planted – a condition that
can be fulfilled thanks to the seed bank and the tree
nursery. To enable the young plants to grow at their
own pace, the planning had to include enclosures.
Finally, a sophisticated irrigation system had to be
installed to prevent erosion or leaching of the soil.
Moreover, none of these measures was to impair the
company’s operations. To ensure a harmonious juxta-
position of rehabilitation and business operations,
responsibility for the two was given to the same per-
son: Juan Pablo Ramognino, Mining Development and
Planning Expert. Eventually, from 2007 onward, the
master plan was put into effect on twelve lots on the
company site. BMJ acted as advisor to the company.
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Rehabilitation at Puesto Viejo,
Argentina
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El Gara Forest Project,

Morocco
Creating a forest out from nowhere:
El Gara, Morocco
Ecoval is equipped with a high-tech laboratory
to test waste samples.
Ecoval waste treatment platform.
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The M’Goun Geopark has
a unique landscape.
More than 334 bird species are listed in a scientific guidebook. An ornithology organization observed birds
in their natural environment for five years.
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El Gara Forest Project,
Morocco
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El Gara Forest Project,
Morocco
Morocco at the northwestern tip of Africa is a country
of contrasts: a Mediterranean climate in the north-
west of the country and searingly hot siroccos in the
south. On the northern flank of the Atlas Mountains
pistachio and juniper trees flourish, while on the
other side thorny bushes and date palms grow. Holcim
has been active in this climatically diverse country
since 1978. Today, more than 500 employees work to
ensure that the company’s output of cement, stone,
and concrete products keeps pace with the steadily
rising demand in this emerging market.
A good track record of sustainable development
In Morocco, Holcim wants to be seen not only as a

leading provider of building materials – but also as a
responsible company in the field of sustainability. In
2000, Holcim (Maroc) S.A. joined the “Association pour
la Protection du Patrimoine Géologique du Maroc”.
Through its membership Holcim assists the associa-
tion financially to maintain the 7,200 square kilome-
ter M’Goun Geopark in the midst of the Atlas Moun-
tains – an area that has a high historic, geologic, and
cultural value and offers a valuable habitat for a rich
diversity of plant and animal wildlife.
Emphasis has also been placed on the protection of
birds. In 2002, Holcim, in cooperation with the “Admin-
istration des Eaux et Forêts” and the “Association
Tazekka”, launched a program to re-establish the
Northern Bald Ibis, which was once found all over
Morocco and is now critically endangered. Since the
program was launched, 26 Bald-Headed Ibis have
been successfully raised at the breeding and research
station near Mezguitem. Holcim Morocco also initi-
ated a partnership with the “Groupe d’Ornithologie du
Maroc Central”. With Holcim’s support, ornithologists
spent five years observing, counting, and cataloging
the birds of Morocco. In 2007 they published their
results in a widely acclaimed scientific guidebook that
was awarded a prize by the Environment Ministry of
Morocco.
Modern waste disposal complemented by forestation
In another contribution to sustainability in Morocco,
Ecoval, a Group company, invested 45 million dirhams
– more than five million Swiss francs – in the con-

struction of a waste treatment platform in El Gara.
In Morocco, this operation is unique: The platform
ensures the proper separation and disposal of waste.
Where appropriate, waste materials are co-processed
in the nearby cement plant. As the waste materials re-
place fossil fuels, this conserves resources and at the
same time ensures the environmentally responsible
disposal of waste.
“Les oiseaux du Maroc” is the first
birds scientific guidebook that has
ever been published in Morocco.
“Les oiseaux du Maroc” has been realized in partnership with the Ornithology
Group of Central Morocco.
Holcim has been practicing sustainability in Morocco for
more than three decades – through both its support for
local communities and its stewardship of the environment.
This approach has enabled Holcim to create a forest in
El Gara – from seemingly nowhere.
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7574
Shortly after opening the waste treatment platform,
Holcim took another step toward greater sustainabil-
ity: It began to reforest an area covering 200 hectares
in the vicinity of the Ecoval plant. Reforestation fulfills
several objectives simultaneously: On the one hand,
it is intended as a contribution to the Moroccan Pro-
gramme Forestier National (PFN). The PFN is a 20-year
plan that includes ecological and social projects:
among other things to protect the soil, to combat fur-
ther desertification, to advance controlled forestry,

and, not least, to protect biodiversity.
On the other hand, the forest is intended to help to
compensate for CO2 emissions: The goal is 51,000
tonnes of CO2 over 40 years. Over and above this, an
intact, flourishing forest offers many other advan-
tages. It provides a habitat for numerous species of
flora and fauna. Moreover, as a self-contained ecosys-
tem it makes a fundamental contribution to protect-
ing biodiversity. In addition, it offers the local popula-
tion opportunities for work and recreation.
Four steps to success
The project was broken down into four phases. In the
first phase, over the course of six months 200,000
young plants were cultivated in a tree nursery espe-
cially established for this purpose: red eucalyptus,
tuart, and carob. In the second phase, these saplings
were planted out. This was followed by a labor-inten-
sive thinning out process to optimize the forest den-
sity. The fourth phase is maintenance, which in the
case of artificially created forests has to be guaran-
teed over the long term to protect the new ecosystem
against diseases and the forces of nature.
From all for all
As with everywhere else in the world, in Morocco
Holcim attaches great importance to social as well as
ecological responsibility. Consequently, the inhabi-
tants of the surrounding communities are responsible
for maintaining the new forest. However, the popula-
tion of El Gara had already taken responsibility for the
project at an earlier stage: They were the people who

planted out the saplings. Like this, they have been in-
tegrated in the project from the outset, giving them a
sense of responsibility for “their” forest.
It takes eight years for the young plants to develop
into trees. Until then the soil and the saplings must
be carefully tended. Thought is already being given to
follow-up projects. These could include educational
and nature trails, ornithological programs, and even
beekeeping in and around the new forest in El Gara.
The aspirations of Holcim extend well beyond the site:
that the forestation project will prove to be the seed
of a movement that other companies will join in time.
In Holcim Morocco, sustainability develop-
ment is part of its business strategy.
Forest grazing enhan-
ces residents’ quality of
life.
The reforestation will enable the development of forest grazing.
El Gara Forest Project,
Morocco
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Flashes of color at the cement plant:
Butterfly garden at Lugait, Philippines
At this site can that butterfly species be found everywhere. In the early morning, an employee is checking
if the eggs have developed into larvae.
The entrance to the public butterfly
garden.
Lugait Plant, Philippines
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The Social Development Management

Program (SDMP) is done in partnership
with the regulatory bodies.
Lemon juice is the basis for the “Kalamansi”,
a local specialty.
The “Kalamansi” drink is
produced within a social
project.
“Kalamansi” satisfy the thirst.
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Lugait Plant, Philippines
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Lugait Plant, Philippines
Factory buildings, huge machines, a significant level
of background noise – and in the middle of it all
brightly colored, fragile-looking butterflies. What at
first glance seems out of sync is reality at the cement
plant in Lugait in Misamis Oriental province in the
Philippines. Here, Holcim has succeeded in creating a
peaceful oasis of biodiversity amid the ceaseless bust-
ling activity: a butterfly garden – and not only that.
Over 30 years of cement tradition
Holcim has been active in the Philippines since 1974.
Today, Holcim is the largest cement company on
the archipelago, operating four plants strategically
located across the country and employing around
1,700 employees. Cement production is resource and
energy-intensive. Hence, ensuring that the production
of this essential building material impacts man and
nature as little as possible is as important a task as it
is challenging. “Our commitment to reduce our ecolo-

gical footprint is emphasized by the integration of
sustainable practices into our daily operations”, says
Julius Baliog, whose responsibilities include mining
at the Lugait plant. This attitude has given rise to,
among other things, the concept of using alternative
energies to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.
This is regulated by a continuous emissions monitor-
ing system that verifies that Holcim’s complies with
the requirements of the Philippine Clean Air Act by a
wide margin.
A living eco-control
Quite a different sort of monitoring system was inau-
gurated on the premises of the factory in Lugait in
September 2007: a butterfly garden. Lorenzo Pendang,
Vice President for operations at the Lugait plant, ex-
plains: “Butterflies are an indicator of the status of
the environment. Our butterfly garden has become a
sanctuary and breeding ground for many butterfly
species. Butterflies play an important role in the polli-
nation of plants. In this way, they help us enhancing
biodiversity in the area.” The idea of a butterfly biotope
on the company site arose in the course of numerous
discussions with local authorities. But it was a long
road from idea to realization. First, it was necessary
to choose the right plants. At times, butterflies are
very picky about their nourishment, which prompted
the experts to design the garden’s flora exclusively
around the needs of the butterflies that would later
live there. Today, a wide variety of butterflies can be
seen at the plant.

Handing over responsibility
However, the butterfly garden in Lugait is more than
a prestigious object for show and also more than just
proof that business and biodiversity can flourish in
the same place. “We want to include the community
and show them how taking care of nature can benefit
people”, explains Julius Baliog. This is the reason why
Holcim initiated an accord with the community and
organizations of the private sector for the supervision
A happy boy picked a papaya. A place where the farmers can take a rest.
Biodiversity is essential for survival – but it can also be
simply beautiful. Holcim proves this in the Philippines:
A butterfly garden at the Lugait cement plant brightens
the daily routine.
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of the garden. Holcim also organized workshops to
train various members of regulatory bodies from diffe-
rent regions. Topics included butterfly breeding and
how to integrate the processing of dead butterflies
into arts and crafts, for example in picture frames or
as bookmarks. Training also includes how to market
such souvenirs. In this way, underprivileged families
gain access to an additional vital source of income.
Widening horizons
Holcim also went a “step further” with the garden’s
plant life. After the selected flora had established it-
self and stabilized, the same plants were used in the
rehabilitation of the quarries in the area. In this way,
it was possible not only to preserve endemic species,
but also to establish them in the immediate surroun-

dings of the cement plant. On top of this, more than
60 hectares of land were reforested. About 90 percent
of the colonizing plants survived. On one hand this is
evidence of the quality of the rehabilitation efforts,
and on the other an indication of Holcim’s ecologically
responsible approach to cement production at this
plant.
Attractive for visitors and locals
Since its inauguration, the butterfly garden in Lugait
has become an attraction for eco-tourists. Meanwhile,
everyday life is brightened not only by the iridescence
of the butterflies, but also by the blooms of an orchi-
darium, and the complex now includes a herb garden
as well.
The butterfly garden and its brightly colored fluttering
activity serve as an accessible recreational area for
Holcim’s employees and the inhabitants in the vicinity.
In addition, the company organizes courses and
lectures for school and college students from the
surrounding towns, cities, and provinces. The local
tourist office wants to include the entire Lugait
plant in its official tourist program – as a compelling
example of how to link economy and ecology.
The tree nursery at the Lugait plant. A worker of the tree nursery delivering seedlings. The organic vegetables
are served in the
nearby canteen.
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L ugait Plant , Philippines
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